University committees Wondering how you’re represented in front of Administration? Here’s how
By Noel Opoti, Student Senate Vice President
Research on student retention and satisfaction indicates that the more engaged a student is, the more likely it is that they will graduate in a timely manner, be more satisfied with their college experience and graduate with higher GPA. Thus, the Student Senate is looking for students to not only participate but provide input on the university programs and events by serving in university committees.
Below is a list of some of the university-wide committees that you could serve on. Remember, even though most of them meet in the daytime, many of them are open to discussing meeting times which would allow most of their members to meet regularly. Some of the committees offer one student seat, others two and some welcome as many students as are available. This is indicated by the number enclosed by parenthesis. The only exception is the Budget committee that can only be sat on by the Senate President.
If you are unavailable from 9 to 5 as a result of a job off campus, there are other committees that you can engage in.
Please keep in mind that some committees meet monthly, others biweekly; you will receive a more detailed date list upon your confirmation of interest.
*Please note that all committees, with the exception of the Budget Committee are open to all students and not limited to student senators.
All committees offer a really good understanding on the inner workings of the university as well as an opportunity to develop knowledge and better relationships with various faculty and staff on campus.
Academic Appeals Committee (2 seats) Student representatives for this committee have to be available for a semester, as continuity is valuable on this committee. The two students, along with faculty members from each college as well as the ombudsman, will listen to appeals from students who feel that they were graded unfairly. They then deliberate and submit a final recommendation to the Provost. The Provost makes the ultimate decision but the decision-making of the committee may have great sway on the Provost’s decision making.
Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) (2 seats) This committee looks into ways that the university can maintain its accredited status as well as be able to provide better for the students. Its sub-branch, the CICT, is described below.
Continuous Improvement Coordination Team (CICT) (1 seat) This committee branches off from the AQIP Committee and is charged with guiding the continuing integration of improvement principles in the university’s daily work. It utilizes the AQIP framework to document and refine improvement efforts and coordinates efforts to demonstrate Metropolitan State’s continuing compliance with Higher Learning Commission criteria to maintain our regional accreditation status.
Admissions Appeal Committee & Admissions Appeal Sub-committee These two committees are charged with the responsibility of listening to appeals made by students with regard to their admission status at our university.
Advising Work Group (1 seat) This workgroup tackles issues related to challenges faced in advising and how to handle them. Their goal is to ensure a structure that provides the most opportune advising circumstances for students.
Alumni Associations Committee (1 seat) American Democracy Project (1 seat) This is a university-wide committee related to a national chapter that promotes civic engagement.
American Indian Advisory Committee (1 appointed by Voices) The American Indian Advisory Committee links two communities and is composed of urban Indian leaders, American Indian students and alumni. AIAC advises AISS on all issues affecting American Indian students at Metropolitan State. Interested American Indian students and community members are welcome to attend their monthly meetings.
Anti-Racism Leadership Team (4 seats) Fridays This committee discusses and is involved in matters of cultural and racial conflict at the university. Working with the Department of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, they strive for a more educated and aware campus as far as matters of culture and diversity go.
Art Exhibition Committee (2 seats) Friday 10am This committee looks at and votes on pieces of art and decor to be placed around the university corridors as well as in the Third Floor Gallery. They work on some, but not all, aspects of beauty around the University. They also vote on the Art Award that is granted to two students annually.
Assessment Committee (Procedure 250) (1 seat) The purpose of the Assessment Committee is to oversee the process of assessing student learning outcomes at Metropolitan State University, consistent with the North Central Association requirement that each affiliated institution have a program to assess academic achievement. The responsibility of the Assessment Committee is to develop and oversee the implementation of a program through which student academic achievement is assessed. Bookstore Advisory Committee (2 seats) This committee meets and confers on anything related to the bookstore with regards to contracts, finances, text book prices and operations. Aside from meeting with the committee, representatives also get to meet with bookstore management. Scheduling fluctuates per semester.
Communications Committee - University-wide (unknown) This is a committee that is still in the set-up stage and is being looked into by President Hammersmith with the aim of establishing better ways to reach students. I will keep you posted as I hear of more developments.
Dean of College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Search Committee (1 seat) There is an ongoing search for the Dean of the CAS. One student will take part in the deliberations and interviews required to select the next Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Towards the final stages of the search process, there will be an opportunity for the entire school body to meet the finalists (three or four final candidates).
Information Technology Advisory Committee (2 seats) This committee discusses issues related to the Informational Technology department as well as factors related to Web updates and enhancements on school Web pages.
Planning and Budget Council The planning and budget committee branches into the following five committees. All the committees under this umbrella report to the university’s executive council. They deal with matters on the various figures both fiscally as well as student numbers.
Budget Committee-Senate President (1 seat) Budget Sub Committee (2 seats) Safety, Security and Facilities Committee (1 seat) Strategic Enrollment and Retention Committee (SERM) (1 seat) (Tuesday 9 a.m. twice a month) This committee works hand in hand with departments such as admissions, registration and financial aid to discuss matters related to what keeps students at the Metropolitan State. They also strategize on ways to resolve issues that make students have to transfer out.
Continuous Improvement Coordinating Team Membership Metro, Many, Me, Ecology, Education, Empowerment (ME3) The acronym can be broken into the following words. Metro: our university, Many: many individuals, Me: I am one of many, Ecology: maintaining the health of our environment, Education: learning to live in sustainable ways, Empowerment: engaging with one another and with the environment in meaningful ways.
This is the school’s sustainability committee that deals with ways in which the school can consume energy resources in a less wasteful manner as well as in a manner that is less destructive to the environment.
Scholarship Committee (1 seat) Members of this committee review scholarship applications and are responsible for sifting through the pool of applicants to make sure that the students with the most need as well as the most requirements met are granted the various scholarships that are available.
Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee (SAFAC) (up to 7 seats) The SAFAC committee is a branch of the senate that is placed with the charge of disbursing out student activity fees to the students. They are busiest towards the end of spring when student organizations present their budgets. Members of this committee will also have to be available to make appointments with student groups that request additional funding mid-year.
Student Conduct Code (1 seat) This committee discusses issues pertaining to the student conduct code that we all are required to abide by. Being a part of this committee would give you a chance to do an array of things such as take part in code revisions as well as some hearings.
Orientation Coordination Team (1 seat) Tuesday 9 a.m. (1hr) This committee takes part in discussions with the Department of Student Life and Leadership to look into ways to make the new student orientation process more efficient and beneficial to the student.
Student Senate committees Students unavailable from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as a result of jobs off campus can participate in other committees. Below is a list of Student Senate Committees whose membership and meeting time are based on the availability of the members. The meetings are scheduled after 5 p.m. on days when a majority of members can attend.
Daycare Committee (Unlimited seats) In the interest of providing a better learning environment for our student body, the Student Senate seeks to have a daycare center on campus sometime in the future. While the results of this effort may not be seen immediately as a result of absence of space on campus, the senate and student body are looking to set the wheels in motion and perhaps have something in place for a campus that definitely has an abundant need for a Daycare Center.
Communications Committee- Senate This committee will aim at looking into better practices for the current senate as well as deal with matters of Senate perception and carryover. The committee is still in its growing stages and may have its name redone following further communications between the members.
Co-Location Planning Committee (Unlimited seats) This committee works to foster better relationships with the campuses on which we co-locate such as the Midway Campus and the Minneapolis Campus. They do this by brainstorming and presenting viable ideas to the senate as well as the university administration.
Dayton’s Bluff Community Committee (unlimited seats) With the interest of fostering a better relationship with the various members of our university community, this committee has been formed to meet up with members of the Dayton’s Bluff community that surrounds our St. Paul campus. The meetings are mostly held off campus. We work with the community through attendance and support at their various festivities. They are welcome to most of our campus events as well.
Diversity Committee (Unlimited seats) The Campus Diversity Representatives work alongside the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity as well as the various cultural student groups on campus to bring cultural aspects as well as diverse experiences to the student body.
Student Center Planning Committee (Unlimited seats) With the absence of a Student Center on campus, the Student Senate has seen it fit to have a committee to go about getting one such center instituted on campus. The committee aims at creating a better sense of community through a collaborative effort between the Senate, student groups as well as any students that are available.
Any students interested in any of the committees listed above should contact Noel Opoti, opotino@go.metrostate.edu or call the Student Senate office at (651) 793-1554 for further information.